While this may be the 49th season at Theatre L'Homme Dieu (TLHD), it might as well have been the first.

Organizers said it couldn't have gone better or been more exciting.

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After being operated by the drama departments of colleges and universities of the Upper Midwest - primarily St. Cloud State University (SCSU)) - the TLHD Board of Directors radically changed courses after SCSU decided for strategic reasons to withdraw from the programming of the summer stock theater.

Shifting from a mixture of student actors, vocational actors and seasoned veterans producing a menu of plays at TLHD's pastoral site, this year it became home for professional troupes from around the state. Dubbed "A Taste of Minnesota," companies from St. Paul, Duluth, St. Cloud and Minneapolis brought shows from their home theaters to Alexandria's 275-seat proscenium stage.

For the past 15 years, TLHD's season has ended in early August, just before the population swells to its largest numbers.

Due to the huge success of "Deer Camp," TLHD will be bringing back this crowd pleaser for six more performances. The shows will run August 11 through August 16.

Simultaneously, TLHD has partnered with Alexandria Community Education. The two entities will be hosting a theater camp for kids during that same week, culminating in a performance at 12:30 p.m. on August 13 in the Bursch Family Hall.

On September 29, Community Education and TLHD will offer a walking tour exploring the rich history and beautiful grounds of Theatre L'Homme Dieu.

Performances will run Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and there will be a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available by calling the TLHD box office at (320) 846-3150. Box office hours are noon to 6 p.m.